Sports Scouts
Overview
Introduction
Sports scouts observe athletic contests and athletes to gather information that will help the team that employs them. They may attend a game in the hopes of recruiting a player, or they may accumulate information about an opponent's players and strategies. There are approximately 241,390 scouts and coaches employed in the United States, according to the Department of Labor.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, sports scouts and coaches had median annual earnings of $34,840 in May 2019. Beginning sports scouts and coaches earned a salary of $19,040 or less, while the most experienced scouts with many success stories earned more than $78,890. Sports scouts also are reimbursed for travel expenses and meals. Another fringe benefit is free admission to countless ...
Work Environment
Sports scouts travel an average of three weeks out of every month, and they are away from home most nights and weekends. While on the road, they stay in hotels and eat most of their meals in restaurants. They travel often by car or bus and also frequently by plane.
Workdays on the road are quite long. A sports scout may be on the road by 7:00 A.M. to drive four hours to me...
Outlook
According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), employment opportunities for scouts and coaches are expected to grow by 11 percent, much faster than the average for all careers, through 2028, but competition for jobs will be keen. One caveat to this employment growth is the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on sports. The postponement or cancellation of many team sports and competitions in 20...
